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Fourth-graders dig for gold in school parking lot

Welcome Elementary School fourth-grader Jacob Ward (left) studies the gemstones and minerals he found during the Boone Gemstone Mining program at the school Wednesday. Helping Ward are classmates (from left) Savannah Tilley, Nicky Maxwell and Chelbie Barnett.

Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 4:15 p.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 at 2:52 p.m.

WELCOME | A different mystery-filled activity took place Wednesday at Welcome Elementary School where students panned for precious keepsakes without having to leave the campus.

The field trip came to the fourth-graders — literally — in a traveling mobile home unit that allowed students to explore the earth through gemstone and fossil mining.

"We got lots of cool rocks," student Sam Walser said. "It was like a surprise. It's neat they came to the school."

Classes rotated in groups to the 24-foot-long trailer. The set-up included water flowing through two authentic sluices where students were able to pan for gemstones, fossils, arrowheads and minerals.

"It was fun because you didn't know what you were going to get," said student Jackson Ward. "My favorite part was shifting through the sand. Everybody got something. We got to look for things, touch them and then look up what we found. I can't wait to go home and show my parents."

Another student, Tyler Grubb, enjoyed the activity. He was thrilled to find some stones and fossils. In the past, the only mining he had done was at Dan Nicholas Park in Rowan County.

"It's neat they came to us," he said.

Students received bags to keep their goodies in after fishing from a selection of more than 50 different gemstone varieties in the trailer mount. They included pyrite (fool's gold), moonstone, rose quartz, emerald calcite, garnet, green jade and yellow jasper.

After mining, the students were able to research their findings to identify what gemstones they found.

"It's actually pretty cool to see and feel them in real life. It's different than just looking at them in the book," Sam said.

Boone Gemstone Mining, out of Clemmons, visits surrounding counties with the concept of bringing the "field trip to you." Owner Wade Boone has been in the entertainment business for 40 years.

The gemstone component was added a couple of years ago. The company holds parties, fairs, carnival games and other functions for many ages.

Boone said with the cuts in funding and the economy being slow it's hard for schools to be able to take a lot of field trips. He said that most of the schools travel to Hiddenite Gems or Castle McCulloch to pan for gemstones.

He wanted to offer an affordable opportunity for students to take a field trip without having to leave school. Boone said teachers are not out of the classroom all day, and money is not spent on bus fuel.

"It ends up being a win-win situation," he said. "Earth science is in the curriculum. There are over 50 gemstones. The students walk away with something."

Teacher Renee Adkins said students study rocks and minerals every year. They usually take a field trip somewhere for the students to mine for gemstones.

This was the school's first time trying this alternative, Adkins said. She noted this also was the first time the students was able to dig for fossils, too.

"I think they enjoyed it. It's a hands-on opportunity," she said.

Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.

<p>WELCOME | A different mystery-filled activity took place Wednesday at Welcome Elementary School where students panned for precious keepsakes without having to leave the campus.</p><p>The field trip came to the fourth-graders — literally — in a traveling mobile home unit that allowed students to explore the earth through gemstone and fossil mining.</p><p>"We got lots of cool rocks," student Sam Walser said. "It was like a surprise. It's neat they came to the school."</p><p>Classes rotated in groups to the 24-foot-long trailer. The set-up included water flowing through two authentic sluices where students were able to pan for gemstones, fossils, arrowheads and minerals. </p><p>"It was fun because you didn't know what you were going to get," said student Jackson Ward. "My favorite part was shifting through the sand. Everybody got something. We got to look for things, touch them and then look up what we found. I can't wait to go home and show my parents."</p><p>Another student, Tyler Grubb, enjoyed the activity. He was thrilled to find some stones and fossils. In the past, the only mining he had done was at Dan Nicholas Park in Rowan County.</p><p>"It's neat they came to us," he said.</p><p>Students received bags to keep their goodies in after fishing from a selection of more than 50 different gemstone varieties in the trailer mount. They included pyrite (fool's gold), moonstone, rose quartz, emerald calcite, garnet, green jade and yellow jasper. </p><p>After mining, the students were able to research their findings to identify what gemstones they found.</p><p>"It's actually pretty cool to see and feel them in real life. It's different than just looking at them in the book," Sam said. </p><p>Boone Gemstone Mining, out of Clemmons, visits surrounding counties with the concept of bringing the "field trip to you." Owner Wade Boone has been in the entertainment business for 40 years.</p><p>The gemstone component was added a couple of years ago. The company holds parties, fairs, carnival games and other functions for many ages.</p><p>Boone said with the cuts in funding and the economy being slow it's hard for schools to be able to take a lot of field trips. He said that most of the schools travel to Hiddenite Gems or Castle McCulloch to pan for gemstones.</p><p>He wanted to offer an affordable opportunity for students to take a field trip without having to leave school. Boone said teachers are not out of the classroom all day, and money is not spent on bus fuel.</p><p>"It ends up being a win-win situation," he said. "Earth science is in the curriculum. There are over 50 gemstones. The students walk away with something."</p><p>Teacher Renee Adkins said students study rocks and minerals every year. They usually take a field trip somewhere for the students to mine for gemstones. </p><p>This was the school's first time trying this alternative, Adkins said. She noted this also was the first time the students was able to dig for fossils, too.</p><p>"I think they enjoyed it. It's a hands-on opportunity," she said.</p><p>Deneesha Edwards can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 213, or at deneesha.edwards@the-dispatch.com.</p>